30-year-old motoring journalist from Swallowfield is on a quest to compete at one of the world’s most toughest endurance races

Glamorous girl racer may be the first words that come to mind on meeting Reading racing driver Rebecca Jackson, but there’s much more to this speed queen than a heavy right foot.

The 30-year-old motoring journalist from Swallowfield is on a quest to compete at one of the world’s most toughest endurance races, the Le Mans 24 hours.

She is in no doubt she will succeed. And with five podiums and a race victory under her belt last season, who can blame her?

She aims to reach Le Mans within four years by motoring through the Porsche stable. Accelerating from Porsche 924s into production Boxsters for a year, she then plans to compete in the sportier BRSCC Boxster class before taking on the Carrera Cup and GT3 racing.

“My best weekend was at Snetterton where in torrential rain I got first, second and third, beating the previous champion who had been competing in 924s for 10 years,” she said.

Off the circuit, Rebecca can be found selling cars through her own company RJ Prestige Cars, which she runs with partner Andrew Arkley.

She also reviews motors online and gets readers revved up by writing for newspapers and magazines including The Sunday Times and Auto Trader.

Her TV career includes regular appearances on ITV 4’s ‘I Want That Car’ and Motors TV, as well as pit lane presenting for Rogue Motorsport at last year’s Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship.

She’s gearing up to present for Nismo TV live (Nissan’s performance arm) at Le Mans this weekend.

She wouldn’t turn her nose up at driving the “awesome machinery” on Top Gear and making a guest appearance as a female Stig.

Describing presenter Jeremy Clarkson as being like “Marmite” and a “true performer”, she said: “I actually think he’s quite hilarious.”

When asked to name her racing inspiration, she immediately says the racing legend John Surtees because he was “both a British former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One champion”.

Her favourite car is a Ferrari 458 Italia, sharing first place with a Porsche 911 GT3RS, but despite being addicted to these speed machines she doesn’t believe in racing through built up areas because of “the risk to children and pets”.

She does, however, admit to being caught speeding on a dual carriageway a decade ago. “I thought it was a 60mph limit but it was 50,” she said regretfully.

Her love of fast cars began before she could walk – spectating at Silverstone in her pram as dad John Jackson competed in the Birkett 6 Hour Team Relay Race.

A couple of years later she hankered after a motorised pedal car. Eventually, the girl racer got her first car – a nifty Peugot 205 1.4CR, which she delighted in driving after passing her driving test first time in just two months, aged 17.

But this didn’t hold her back, as the Swallowfield speed queen went on to get a 2:1 degree in business studies in 2004 at Bath Spa University, where her life behind the wheel created quite a clamour.

Spotting her under the bonnet, awed rugby boys said: “That’s a GIRL working on that car!”

There’s nothing macho about this stunning speedster – her favourite colour is hot pink tempered by Porsche Mexico blue and she’s a fan of the speedy footwork needed for salsa dancing.

She also uses her burgeoning public profile to support charities that help homeless children to get into education, such as Sentebale and the Insituto Ayrton Senna.

Racing isn’t just limited to the circuit as next month will see her taking part in the 5km Reading Race for Life on Sunday, July 21, with her mum Diane Jackson to raise awareness for breast cancer research.

Named as a Michelin Inspirational Woman in 2012 and 2013, Miss Jackson said: “I truly believe that with the right level of diligence, commitment, belief and, of course, a little luck, anyone can achieve their ambitions.

“And I’m very much into inspiring young girls and women to do well and follow their dreams.”

Miss Jackson has only been a Reading resident for four years but she is totally in love with the place. “It’s a great place to be in terms of access to race circuits and the lucrative M4 corridor.

“And I really like the town centre shopping, lovely Berkshire pubs and the Thames.”

When asked to sum up the best bit of her life, this speedy superwoman said: “Having a car on the edge of traction.”